Journalist down under confirms David Fusitu’a’s departure to Super League and identifies which club he’s set to join

Over the past few weeks, the future of David Fusitu’a has been making headlines in the Northern Hemisphere.

Rumours surfaced last week that Leeds were preparing a move for the winger as they look to enhance their try scoring abilities out wide in 2022.

It seemed cut and dry that the Rhinos would secure his services until Catalans made an 11th hour move for the winger despite already having Tom Davies and Fouad Yaha. The Dragons were no doubt hoping that the allure of joining the top team in Super League last season as well as the French lifestyle would attract the Tongan international over to the South of France.

It wouldn’t be the first time Catalans have won out against Leeds in a race for a major target. Leeds were linked to both James Maloney and Tom Davies before they joined the Dragons. Catalans also made a late move for Leeds forward Zane Tetevano last year.

But according to reports down under, Leeds have won the race for Fusitu’a’s signature. David Long of New Zealand website Stuff revealed this morning that the winger is set to join Leeds and that an announcement is expected soon.

The former NRL Dally M Try Scorer of the Year winner asked current club New Zealand Warriors if he could talk to potential suitors despite being contracted to the club until 2023. The Warriors allowed him to do so not wanting to stand in his way.

Worryingly for Leeds, despite his brilliant try scoring record which saw him finish as the NRL’s top try scorer in 2018 with 23 tries in 23 games and his brilliant hat-trick against New Zealand in the last World Cup, the Tongan comes with a fair few worries mostly down to injury. In fact, the 27-year-old has only played five games in 2021.

Financially, his believed £300,000 salary could be a concern but according to Leeds Live’s report on Friday night, the Warriors will be chipping in with a fair amount of his salary until 2023.

Nonetheless, it seems the Tongan and New Zealand international could soon be in Super League.